Stop auto equipping alcohol!

You equip equippable items by holding the button down rather than tapping it to pick them up. The game is often too eager to do this as well, sometimes you barely have to hold the button at all. Try to just tap the button faster, as in, reduce the amount of time you have the button actually pressed.

Wielding a weapon while alcohol is in the weapon wheel does not cause alcohol to be auto-equipped upon pick-up. However, while wielding fists (empty hands), it is the case.

This recommendation goes along with what Ender recommends, i.e. lessening the amount of time that you hold down the use button to pick up equippables.